ELCA maintains status quo

Looks that way, anyway. From Beliefnet:

The nation’s largest Lutheran church on Friday upheld a policy that frowns on blessing same-sex unions, but left the door open for pastors to provide “faithful pastoral care” to all parishioners as they see fit.Delegates from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted 670-323 to uphold a 1993 statement that says gay unions have no basis in Scripture and cannot be an “official action” of the church.

Yet, at the same time, the church said it would trust local churches to “discern ways to provide faithful pastoral care” to all parishioners, which would include gay and lesbian Lutherans.

The church’s unofficial policy remains the guidance offered by church bishops in 1993 that they find no basis in Scripture or tradition “for the establishment of an official ceremony of this church for the blessing of a homosexual relationship.”

Delegates narrowly rejected, 491-484, language that referred specifically to “same-sex couples.” Instead, pastors are called to provide care “for all to whom they minister.”

Read the rest here.

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